Well point



May 7, 1963 G. A. THOMPSON WELL POINT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18,1962 INVENTOR. A THOMPSON GEORGE ATTORNEYS May 7 1963 G. A. THOMPSON3,088,534

WELL POINT Filed May 18, 1962 s sheets-sneet H Eng@ ATTOR N EYS May 7,1963 G. A. THOMPSON WELL POINT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1962 u im411v1/ENT0R. GEORGE A .THoMPsoN A-rToszNE-Ys attesti Patented May 7,1963 3,088,534 WELL PGINT George A. Thompson, 11.0. Box 702, DaytonaBeach, Fla. Filed May 18, 1962, Ser. No. 195,781 7 Claims. (Cl. 175-314)This invention relates to apparatus for draining land and moreparticularly to an improved 'well point for use in draining water fromsoil to allow excavation work.

A main object `of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wellpoint apparatus for use in draining water from soil, said apparatusbeing relatively simple in construction, being easy to install, andfacilitating the rapid extraction of water from the subsurfaceformations into lwhich it is driven.

A further object of the invention is to provide an irnproved well pointfor use in apparatus for draining water from soil, for example, topermit excavation work adjacent to the soil, the well point apparatusbeing relatively inexpensive in construction, being durable, involvingrelatively few moving parts, and being arranged so that it extractswater rapidly from subsurface formations while blocking the entry ofsand or other loose foreign material into the Well point.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved wellpoint for use in removing water from subsurface formations so as toallow excavation work to be carried on adjacent thereto, the well pointbeing provided with improved means for allowing a rapid down flow ofwater therethrough while the well point is being driven into its Workingposition, but being arranged so that the well point seals itselfautomatically with respect to downward flow and reverses the permissibledirection of flow of liquid therethrough responsive to suction exertedthereon.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical installation for drainingwater from subsoil adjacent to an excavation, employing a plurality ofimproved Well point units according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional View taken through thesubsoil adjacent to one of the well point units of FIGURE l during theprocess of driving the rwell point unit towards its working position inthe soil.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, butshowing the well point unit driven to its working position.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view takensubstantially on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 6 6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to FIGURE 6, butshowing the positions of the parts when the well point unit is inworking position and suction is applied to its inner tube.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of thepressure-responsive reversingvvalve assembly employed in the Well pointunit of FIGURES 2 to 7, to a substantially enlarged scale.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view takensubstantially on the line 9-*9 of FIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE l, a typicalinstallation is illustrated, wherein a plurality of well point units 11are driven vertically into the soil adjacent an area in (whichexcavation work is to be carried out, for the purpose of draining waterfrom the area, so as to permit the excavation Awork to be freely carriedon. Thus, each of the units `11 includes a central tube .12 whichprojects upwardly through the top end of the main body of the unit andwhich is connected by a flexible conduit 13 through a manually operatedvalve 14 to an elongated header conduit 15. Associated with theinstallation is a pump 16 of conventional construction which is drivenby suitable prime mover means,

for example, an internal combustion engine 17. Connected to the end ofthe header conduit 15 is a flexible conduit 18 which may be at timesconnected to a suitable source of water under pressure, namely, when thewell point units 11 are being installed in the ground, in the mannerpresently to be described, and which may be subsequently connected tothe intake conduit 19 of the pump 116 for applying suction to the wellpoint units 11 after said Well point units have been driven to theirworking positions.

As will be readily understood the pump 16 may be employed as the Awaterinjection means by connecting the conduit 18 to the outlet conduit 20 ofthe pump and by connecting the pump inlet 19 to a suitable waterreservoir. With the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE l, the ptunp I16is connected in its working position relative to the well point units11, namely, is connected in a manner to exert suction on the Well pointunits so as to drain water from the ground, ultimately discharging thewater through its outlet conduit 21 into a drainage ditch 22.

Each well point assembly 11 comprises the generally cylindricalelongated outer casing 23 which is formed over the major portion of itslength, starting from its lower end, with staggered peripheral rows ofhorizontal slots 24, said slots being relatively narrow, and beingsuliiciently narrow to substantially prevent sand or other loose solidmaterial from moving into the casing after the unit has been installedin working position and placed in operation. The casing 23 is providedwith the top and bottom walls 25 and 26, the bottom wall 26 beingprovided with the depending central generally cylindrical tip member2.7.

The elongated cent-ral tube 12 extends axially through the casing 23,extending through spaced apertured horizontal partition discs Z8provided in the casing, being rigidly secured to the central portions ofthe apertured partition discs 28, said discs being in turn rigidlysecured to the cylindrical casing 23. The lower portion of the tube 12is connected to the top end of `a cylindrical housing 29 which is inturn rigidly secured in the lowerinost apertured supporting disc 30. Thebottom end of the cylindrical housing 29 is connected by an aperturedtube 31 to the tip member 27.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the tip member 27 has a bot- -tom wall 33 provided`with the central, downwardly convergent frusto-conical dischargeorifice 34. The apertured tube member 31 extends into the `top portionof the tip member 27 and `defines an annular seat 35 adapted to at timessealingly receive a hollow float ball 36 in the manner illustra-ted inFIGURE 7, said float ball 36 being biased upwardly by a coil spring 37which bears between the bottom wall 33 `and the hollow oat member 36, asis clearly illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, urging the ball 36 upwardlyagainst the annular seat 35 in the absence of downward liquid pressureexerted thereon.

The tloat b-all 36 is quite buoyant, so that it will be urged upwardlyinto sealing engagement with the annular seat 35 by its buoyancy, asWell as by the biasing effect of the coil spring 37.

Mounted centrally in the bottom portion of the housing member 29 is acentrally apertured annular plate member 38 which is rigidly supportedover the top end of tube 31 by a plurality of radial supporting arms 39rigidly connecting the plate 38 to the bottom wall of housing 29. Thetop wall of housing 2.9 is formed around its top aperture 40 with adepending annular sealing rib 41 which is at times sealingly engageableby an annular sealing gasket 42 carried on the top wall member 43 of aframe 44 which is resiliently supported for axial vertical movement inthe housing 29. Thus, the frame 44 includes the circular central bottomplate member 45 to which is rigidly secured a depending axial shaft 46which extends slidably through a resilient cushioning pad 47 secured onthe plate 38, the shaft 46 extending through the central aperture ofplate 38. A coil spring 50 surrounds the shaft 46, bearing between thecircular bottom plate 45 of frame 44 and an annular washer 51 supportedon the cushion member 47. The cushion member 47 is of substantialthickness and slidably supports the shaft 46 so as to guide said shaftfor vertical movement, cooperating with the spring t) to maintain theframe 44 in an axial position inside the housing 29. Horizontallysecured in the intermediate portion of the frame 44 is a centrallyapertured resilient guide member 53 of rubber or other suitableresilient material through which slidably extends the depending verticalstem `54 of a frusto conical valve 5S sealingly engageable in acorrespondingly shaped central valve seat provided in the annular topplate 43. The stem 54 is biased downwardly by a coil spring 56 whichsurrounds the lower portion of the stem and bears between an enlargedflange 57 rigidly secured to the bottom end of the stem 5 4 and anannular washer 58 to which the bottom surface of the rubber guide member53 is secured. A similar annular washer 59 is secured to the top surfaceofthe rubber guide member 53. The washer 58 is rigidly connected tothevertical rods 60 of frame 44.

As will be readily apparent, when a downward pressure is exerted byforcing liquid downwardly in tube 12, the annular sealing element 42Vwill be forced downwardly below the sealing rib 41, allowing the liquidto flow freely downwardly through the housing 29 and into the aperturedbottom tube member 31, and to ow downwardly therefrom past the floatball 36 into the tip member 27 `and to be ejected from the bottomorifice 34. However, when suction is applied to the tube 12, with thewell point in worling position and with liquid in its bottom portion,the suction forces the liquid upwardly through the housing 29, causingthe conical valve 55 to be elevated, as shown in FIGURE 7, allowing theliquid to move upwardly through the tube 12. Thus, FIGURE 6 illustratesthe positions of the parts when liquid is pumped downwardly through thetube 12, forcing the frame 44 downwardly and allowing the liquid to flowto the bottom nozzle member 27. FIGURE 7 illustrates the reversecondition, namely, where suction is applied to the tube 12, causing thelioat ball 36 to be urged upwardly into sealing position against theannular seat 3S, whereby water in the lower portion of the casing 23will be urged upwardly through the apertures of the tube member 31through the housing 29, exerting a sufficient upward force on the platemember 43 to cause member 42 to sealingly engage with the annular rib41, whereby the upward force is applied to the valve member 55, causingit to be elevated and allowing the water to flow upwardly through thetube 12 under the applied suction.

In installing the well point units 11, the units are first supported invertical positions and allowed to descend into engagement with theground, rwith water under pressure applied to the tubes 12, the wateremerging from the bottom orifice 34 of each tube, providing an emergentjet of considerable force which acts as a digging means to wash away thesoil adjacent the bottom of the associated casing 23. Thus, as the soilis washed away, the casing is allowed to descend, and is forceddownwardly into the excavation thus dug by the jet of water emergingfrom the bottom nozzle member 27 of 4the unit. Eventually, the casingwill be driven into its intended Working position, f or example, theposition thereof illustrated in FIGURE 3, after which the header 15 isconnected to the intake conduit 19 of the pump 116, as above described,whereby suction may be applied to the tubes 12 of the various wellpoints 11. It will be understood, that a plurality of well points 11 maybe installed in the ground, the manner above described, adjacent to anarea Where excavation work is to be carried out, so as to maintain saidarea drained of water.

When the suction is applied to the tube 12 of the well point units 11,the water or other liquid from the adjacent formations around therespective casings 23 flows into the casings and enters the perforatedtubes 31 at their bottom ends, being then drawn upwardly through thehousing 29 by suction, in the manner above described, being drawnupwardly through the tubes 12 and finally discharged from the outletconduit 21 of the pump 16.

As will -be readily apparent, the float balls 36 are urged against theannular bottom rims 35 of the perforated tubes 31 not only by thebiasing springs 37 but also by the buoyancy of the float balls.

While a specific embodiment of an improved well point assembly has beendisclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood thatvarious modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitationsbe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well point, an elongated main vertical casing formed with spacedhorizontal relatively narrow slots, said casing having top and bottomwalls, an imperforate tube mounted axially in said casing and extendingthrough said top wall, a perforated tube mounted axially in the lowerportion of said casing, a depending nozzle secured centrally to saidbottom wall and receiving the bottom end of said perforated tube, afloat ball movably disposed in said nozzle and being sealinglyengageable with the bottom rim of said perforated tube, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, means on the frame sealingly engageable with the top wallof the housing to seal the housing relative to said imperforate tube,means biasing said frame upwardly towards sealing position, the framebeing movable downwardly responsive to liquid pressure in saidimperforate tube, and upwardly movable normally closed valve means onsaid frame` opening responsive to suction in said imperforate tube.`

2. In a well point, an elongated main vertical casing formed with spacedhorizontal relatively narrow slots, said casing having top and bottomwalls, an imperforate tube mounted axially in said casing and extendingthrough said top wall, a perforated tube mounted axially in the lowerportion of said casing, a depending nozzle secured centrally to saidbottom wall and receiving the bottom end of said perforated tube, afloat ball movably disposed in said nozzle and being sealinglyengageable with the bottom rim of said perforated tube, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, said frame having a top wall, means on said last-namedtop wall sealingly engageable with the top wall of the housing` to sealthe` housing relative to said imperforate tube, means biasing said frameupwardly toward sealing position, the frame being movable downwardlyresponsive to liquid pressure in said imperforate tube, and upwardlymovable normal- 1y closed valve means in said last-named top wallopening responsive to suction in said imperforate tube.

3. In a well point, an elongated main vertical casing formed with spacedhorizontal relatively narrow slots, said casing having top and bottomwalls, an imperforate tube mounted axially in said casing and extendingthrough said top wall, a perforated tube mounted axially in the lowerportion of said. casing, a depending nozzle secured centrally to saidbottom wall and receiving the bottom end of said perforated tube, afloat ball movably disposed in said nozzle and being sealinglyengageable with the bottom rim of said perforated tube, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, said frame having a top wall, means on said last-namedtop wall sealingly engageable ywith the top wall of the housing to sealthe housing relative to said imperforate tube, means biasing said frameupwardly towards sealing position, the frame being movable downwardlyresponsive to liquid pressure in said imperforate tube, verticallyreciprocable valve means in said last-named top wall, and spring meansbiasing said valve means downwardly into sealing engagement with saidlast-named top wall, said valve means being movable upwardly toward openposition responsive to suction in said imperforate tube.

4. In `a well point, an elongated main vertical casing formed withspaced horizontal relatively narrow slots, said casing having top andbottom walls, an imperforate tube mounted axially in said casing andextending through said top wall, a perforated tube mounted axially inthe lower portion of said casing, a depending nozzle secured centrallyto said bottom wall and receiving the bottom end of said perforatedtube, a float ball movably disposed in said nozzle and being sealinglyengageable with the bottom rim of said perforated tube, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, said frame having atop wall, means on said last-named topwall sealingly engageable with the top wall of the housing to seal thehousing relative to said imperforate tube, a centrally apertured guidemember secured to the bottom wall of the housing, a depending guide rodin the frame extending slidably through the central aperture of saidguide member, means biasing said frame upwardly towards sealingposition, the frame being movable downwardly responsive to liquidpressure in said imperforate tube, vertically reciprocable valve meansin said last-named top wall, and spring means biasing said valve meansdownwardly into sealing engagement with said last-named top wall, saidvalve means being movable upwardly toward open position responsive tosuction in said imperforate tube.

5. In a well point, an elongated main vertical casing formed with spacedhorizontal relatively narrow slots, said casing having top and bottomwalls, an imperforate tube mounted axially in said casing and extendingthrough said top wall, a perforated tube mounted axially in the lowerportion of said casing,` a depending nozzle secured centrally to saidbottom wall and receiving the bottom end of said perforated tube, afloat ball movably disposed in said nozzle and being sealinglyengageable with the bottom rim of said perforated tube, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, said frame having a top wall, means on said last-namedtop wall sealingly engageable with the top wall of the housing to sealthe housing relative to said imperforate tube, a centrally aperturedguide member secured to the bottom wall of the housing, a dependingguide rod on the frame extending slidably through the central apertureof said guide member, spring means surrounding said guide rod andbearing between the frame and said guide member and biasing said frameupwardly toward sealing position, the frame being movable downwardlyresponsive to liquid pressure in said imperforate tube, verticallyreciprocable valve means in said 6 last-named top wall, and spring meansbiasing said valve means downwardly into sealing engagement with saidlast-named top wall, said valve means being movable upwardly toward openposition responsive to suction in said imperforate tube.

6. In a well point, an elongated main Vertical casing formed with spacedhorizontal relatively narrow slots, said casing having top and bottomwalls, an imperforate tube mounted axially in said casing and extendingthrough said top wall, a perforated tube mounted axially in the lowerportion of said casing, a depending nozzle secured centrally to saidbottom wall and receiving the bottom end of said perforated tube, `afloat ball movably disposed in said nozzle and being sealinglyengageable with the bottom rim of said perforated tube, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a Vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, said frame having a top wall, means on said last-namedtop wall sealingly engageable with the top wall of the housing to sealthe housing relative to said imperforate tube, a centrally aperturedguide member secured to the bottom wall of the housing, a dependingguide rod on the frame extending slidably through the central apertureof the guide member, spring means surrounding said guide rod and bearingbetween the frame and said guide member and biasing said frame upwardlytoward sealing position, the frame being movable downwardly responsiveto liquid pressure in said imperforate tube, vertically reciprocablevalve means in said last-named top wall, a centrally aperturedhorizontal guide plate in the intermediate portion of said frame, adepending stem on said valve means extending slidably through thecentral aperture of said guide plate, abutment means on the bottom endof said stem, and a coiled spring on the stem bearing between saidabutment means and said guide plate and biasing said valve meansdownwardly into sealing engagement with said last-named top wall, saidvalve means being movable upwardly toward open position responsive tosuction in said imperforate tube.

7. In a well point, an elongated perforated vertical main casing, saidcasing having top and bottom walls, an imperforate tube mounted axiallyin said casing and extending through said top wall, a perforated tubemounted axially in the lower portion of said casing, a depending nozzlesecured centrally to said bottom wall and communicating with saidperforated tube, annular valve seat means between the perforated tubeand said nozzle, a float ball movably disposed in said nozzle and beingsealingly engageable with said valve seat means, a valve housingconnecting the top end of said perforated tube and the bottom end ofsaid imperforate tube, a vertical frame reciprocably mounted in saidvalve housing, means on the frame sealingly engagea'ole with the topwall of the housing to seal the housing relative to s-aid imperforatetube, means biasing said frame upwardly toward sealing position, theframe being movable downwardly responsive to liquid pressure in saidimperforate tube, and upwardly movable normally closed valve means onsaid frame opening responsive to suction in said imperforate tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,688,356 Romney Oct. 23, 1928 2,093,764 Lee Sept. 21, 1937 2,164,253Moore June 27, 1939 2,176,540 Moore Oct. 17, 1939 3,056,459 WilliamsOct. 2, 1962

1. IN A WELL POINT, AN ELONGATED MAIN VERTICAL CASING FORMED WITH SPACEDHORIZONTAL RELATIVELY NARROW SLOTS, SAID CASING HAVING TOP AND BOTTOMWALLS, AN IMPERFORATE TUBE MOUNTED AXIALLY IN SAID CASING AND EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID TOP WALL, A PERFORATED TUBE MOUNTED AXIALLY IN THE LOWERPORTION OF SAID CASING, A DEPENDING NOZZLE SECURED CENTRALLY TO SAIDBOTTOM WALL AND RECEIVING THE BOTTOM END OF SAID PERFORATED TUBE, AFLOAT BALL MOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID NOZZLE AND BEING SEALING ENGAGEABLEWITH THE BOTTOM RIM OF SAID PERFORATED TUBE, A VALVE HOUSING CONNECTINGTHE TOP END OF SAID PERFORATED TUBE AND THE BOTTOM END OF SAIDIMPERFORATE TUBE, A VERTICAL FRAME RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID VALVEHOUSING, MEANS ON THE FRAME SEALINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TOP WALL OFTHE HOUSING TO SEAL THE HOUSING RELATIVE TO SAID IMPERFORATE TUBE, MEANSBIASING SAID FRAME UPWARDLY TOWARDS SEALING POSITION, THE FRAME BEINGMOVABLE DOWNWARDLY RESPONSIVE